There are people who detest Akiva Goldsman–writer of such film travesties as the latter Batman films and the “Lost in Space” movie–with a passion burning hotter than a thousand suns. Some hate him so much that they resent him winning the Oscar because they can’t forgive him the previous films. To those folks, here’s some interesting food for thought. I just picked up a copy of the “West Wing” script book, and in it creator Aaron Sorkin relates how his friend Goldsman was visiting one evening. And Goldsman, seeing a framed poster of “The American President,” said, “You know what? That would make a good TV series. You should do a TV series focusing on the administrative staff of the President of the United States.”
The next day, Sorkin found himself unexpectedly in a pitch session, and an exec said, “So what’s your idea for a series?” Sorkin had nothing. So he blurted out, “How about a series focusing on the administrative staff of the President of the United States?”
And thus was born “The West Wing.” Now, of course, if you happen to hate that series AND you hate Akiva Goldsman, here’s just another reason to hate him more. But if, like me, you love the series, you have to grudgingly admit that you owe Akiva Goldsman one.
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